old prayers

It's been a precious weekend, both celebrating double digits with this girl, enjoying some little end of summer things with the whole crew, and having a few precious hours with this dear friend this morning. 

Betsy's been through a lot. She reminded me kindly that I have been too. She points to Jesus and she believes Him. She doesn't just pray with hope. She prays with believing. 

I needed that. 

The reminder to set my eyes on Him. To live - really - like I believe He is who He is and He is doing what He says He is doing.  Not because I get it. Not because I see it. Not because the facts tell me so. 

One of her most powerful testimonies for me today was a genuinely concerning and broken situation that many friends are walking through...and yet she said, and I saw, "I pray for this every day, several times a day...and after that, I don't worry about it. I do what I can do, pray, and I trust Him. I truly believe He will redeem and make this beautiful."

Do we trust Him, but our lives are consumed with worry, anxiety or fighting for control? Is He our rock, but we're all OVER the place? Is He our peace...but no one sees the fruit of peace in our lives? Do we trust Him and pray with boldness and empty hands, or do we pray and then clutch at our own control?

When I get time with women like Betsy, I hear the prayers of my mom from SO long ago, that the Lord would give me women in her place...women I don't deserve nor earn, women who just love like He does.

I'm so grateful she prayed those prayers...not just hoping, but believing...and that the Lord continues to answer.